MANAGING a sports shop in a retail park is a world away from the globe-trotting life of an international singing star, as Chris Hindle well knows.

Growing up in Allerton, Chris was a Bradford Cathedral choirboy "for about ten minutes" then studied Italian opera at the Dacosta Academy in York.

But his heart lay with blues, soul and pop, taking him in a different direction as a singer. "I like all kinds of music, but opera wasn't my passion. I studied it to strengthen my voice, it gave me more power as a tenor," says Chris, who admits to a guilty pop pleasure. "When I was a lad in Bradford I was into Bros," he smiles. "I was a proper fan - Grolsch tops on the shoes, the lot. I eventually got to know Matt Goss and sang with him in Vegas, which was a fantastic experience."

It was while singing in another duo that Chris met up with old friend Paul Boocock. "He came to the show and we got talking. It emerged there was a gap in the market for a Blues Brothers show, and he suggested we put something together with a live band. I said no initially. I was busy as a retail manager, I just didn't think I could do it."

But Chris, a fan of the Blues Brothers movie, was soon in - and hasn't looked back.

"I've known Paul "The Booster" Boocock since childhood, we both went to Allerton Middle and Rhodesway schools. He's now my partner in CBB Entertainments and we've built the production up to what it is today," he says.

The show is Chicago Blues Brothers; a celebration of the phenomenon which started as a blues and rhythm revivalist act on US TV by comedy actors Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi.

Chris, who produces and directs the show, plays Jake Blues, the role created by Belushi, and Gareth Davey is Elwood. With Paul as the drummer, and sound engineer Paul Nichols of Clayton, backing singer Laura Erby of Cottingley, and lighting technician Mike Smith of Queensbury, Chicago Blues Brothers has a strong Bradford heritage.

With trademark pork pie hats, shades and sharp suits, the boys are in Bradford next month with a new show, a re-vamped set and extra dance routines.

"We dip in and out of the film but put our own twist on the story," says Chris. "We like to mix it up; there's a bit where Gareth and I do a little Charleston to the music from the Cantina scene in Star Wars. It's the sort of quirky, off-the-wall thing that Aykroyd and Belushi would've slipped in."

The Blues Brothers began in January, 1976 on America's Saturday Night Live, as a band fronted by Belushi and Aykroyd. It later developed into an album and the 1980 movie, directed by John Landis.

Chris puts its lasting appeal down to the timeless songs - including Everybody Needs Somebody, Soul Man, Respect, Sweet Home Chicago and Rawhide - and the fun ethos. "We include songs from the film that people would expect, and we throw in a bit of soul, Motown and funk too. We have a top-class nine-piece band," he says.

"Playing at St George's Hall will be special to us as it's a home crowd. We're going to film it, to keep as a memento."

Chris studied Belushi's performances to capture his moves. "He got very animated on stage, there's a lot of energy," says Chris.

The act is a hit worldwide from Poland to Dubai. Later this year Chris and the team will be heading to the Middle East, Goa and Norway.

"Audiences love it wherever we are," he says. "In Latvia we were told that audiences were reserved and may not dance. We said: 'They will dance'. And they did! You can't not dance to this music.

"In Poland we played a venue Kylie had just performed in. The week after, Lenny Kravitz was there. I remember thinking: "We're just a couple of lads from Bradford'."

It's a long way from Chris's life in retail. "My first job was for Grattan in Bradford. I later became manager of JD Sports at Forster Square. I never had any ambition to sing, I just fell into it," he says.

"Now I'm in a show I love, travelling the world. It doesn't feel like work, which is the best thing you can say about a job I guess."

* Chicago Blues Brothers is at St George’s Hall on Saturday, February 13. For tickets call (01274) 432000.